Circuit-interrupter.



H. G. BAXTER.-

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29. I915.

A1TORNEY INVENTOR //dro/d Baxler,

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD G. BAXTEI on wmnnvsnnac, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTING- HOUSE ELECTBJC AND M.ANUFACTURING ;o1ara Y, A CORPORATION or PENN- SYLVANIA.

CIRCUIT-INTERRUJTER.

T0 aZZ whom 2'23 may conccrn.

Be it knoWn that I, HAROLD Gonrnnv BAX TER, a subject of the King of Great Britaim and a resident of Vilkinsbrg, in the county of Alleghcny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Circuit-Interruptrs, of vvhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to circuit interrupters and particularly to contact members for the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a contact mcinber for a circuit interruptcr that shall have a Wiping action when the contact members are moved into and out of engagement with each other.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a view, mainly in side e]evation but partially in section, of a portion of a circuit interrupter embodying my invention. L

Main stationary contact members 1 and 2 are mounted on supporting rode 3 and 4, as is usua1 in circuit breakers of well knoxvn construction. A movable bridging member 5 is attached to a rod 6 and has a main movable contact member 7 and auxiliary movable contact membcrs 8 and 9 mounted thereon. Each of the auxiliary movable contact members 8 and 9 is provided with a cylindrical lower portion 10 that is disposed in an opening 11 in the member 5. The opening 11 is cvlindrical in shape and its upper portion 12 is of enlarged diametcr to receive a helical supporting spring 18, one end of which rests upon an annular shoulder 12 that constitutes the bottom of the space 12 and the other end of Which engages the under side of the main portion of the one or the other of the movable contact members 8 and 9. Each cylindrical portion 10 is provided vvith a diagonal groove 14 to receive the end of a guiding pin 15 with which the member 5 is provided. The groove 14 and the pin 15 are so disposed that, When the auxiliarv movable contact members move longitudinally in the membcr 5, they are also compelled to move rotatively. The auxiliarv movable contact members 8 and 9 are electrically connected together by a flexible conductor 18.

In the position shown in the accompanying drawing the contact members 8 and 16 and the contact members 9 and 17 are in en;

Spccification of Letters Patent.

Application fi1ed April 29, 1915, Serial No, 24,752.

gagemcnt, and the springs 13 are compressed. If it is desiredto open the circuit intcrrupter, tire rod 6 is moved downwardly to disengage the main contact member 7 from the main stationary contact membcrs 1 and 2. The movable contact members 8 and 9 romain in engagement vrith their co opcrating auxiliary stzitionarv contact members 16 and 17 respectivcly, until the springs 13 have reached their limit of pansion. Howcver, vvhile the springs are expanding, the movable contact mcmbers 8 and 9 are turning so as to secure a WiPing action xvith respect to the stationary contact mcmbers 16 and 17.

If it is desired to close the circuit interrupter, the rod 0 is moved upwarcl v until the auxiliar v contact members 8 and 9 engage the stationarv contact members 16 and 17, respectivelv, and the springs 18 are compressed. Vhile the springs 13 are being compressed, the contact members 8 and 9 are being turned to secure good electrical con tact and to clean the surfaces of any irregu larities or pits that may be caused by the arcing incident to opcning the circuit. Artter the auxiliary contact membcrs arc engaged, the main contact member 7 engages the stationary main contact membcrs 1 and 2.

Vhile I have Shown mv invention in it:s preferred form, it W111 be understood that various modifications mav ne made therei r Witlxout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the ap-- pended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A circuit interruptcr comprising a stationary contact member, a movahle member, a movable contact member mounted on the movable member, and means depcn dent only upon the relative movement oi the movable members for causing the movable contact member to turn in a plane parallcl to the contact surface of the stationary contact member when the contact memocrs arc engaged.

2. A circuit interrupter compri ing a stationarv contact member, a movable member, a movable contact member mounted on the movable member, and means depencing upon the relative movcmcnt betncen the. movahle member and the movable contact membcr for causing the movaole contact membcr to turn in a plane parallel to the contact surface of the stationary contact membcr.

3. A circuit interruptcr comprising a stationary contact memben a movabie contact member, a movab1e supporting member for the movable contact 1nember, said movab1e contact member being adapted to be relatively movable with respect to its supporting member, and n1eans dependent on1y upon the relative movement of the movabie members for turning the movabie contact member in a plane parailel to the contact surface of the stationary contact member.

4. A circuit interrupter comprising a sta tionary contact member, a movable member, a movabie contact member resiiiently mounted on said movabie membcr, and means dependcnt oniy upon the relative movement of the movab1e members for imparting a rotative movement to said movab1e contact membcr in a plane paraliel to the contact surface of the stationary contact membcr as it is movcd longitudina 11y.

5. A circuit interrupter comprising a stationary contact 1nember, a movab1e 1nember having a pin and a movabie contact 1nember resiliently mounted on the movab1c member and having a groove to receive the inner end of said pin for imparting a rotative movement to said movabie contact member as it is moved relatively to the movaole member.

6. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with a stationary contact member, of a movable membcr having a pin, a movabe contact member disposed in the movable member, and a resi1icnt member for supporting the movable contact member, said movable con tact member having a groove Which is engaged by the pin in the movabie member for effecting a rotative movement of the movable contact mcmber as the resiiient member is compressed and expanded byrca son et the engagement and disengagemcnt of the contact 1nembers.

7. A circuit interrupter comprising a sta* tionary contact membcr, a movable supporting member, a movabie contact membcr, means for resiiiently supporting the movable contact member on the movabie supporting memoer, and means dependent upon the relative movement between the movabie contact member and its supporting member for turning the movable contact mcmber in a plane parallel to the contact surface of the stationary contact memner.

8. A circuit interrupter comprising a stationary contact member, a movabie supporting member having a projection therein, and a movabie contact membcr resilientiy mount ed on the supporting member and having a cam surface that is adapted to coperate with the projection in the supporting member to cause the movable contact me1nher to turn in a plane parallel to the contact surface of the stationary contact men1bcr when the movable contact 1nember 1noves relatiie1y to its supporting member.

9. A circuit interrupter comprising a stationary contact member, a movabie supporting member, a movabie contact member, a spring for resiiientiy supporting the movable contact member on the supporting member, said supporting n1ember having a pin therein, said movabie contact incmber having a groove thcrein to receive the said pin said pin and groove being adapted to co operate to turn the movable contact 1nc1nber when the spring is compresscd.

In testimony Whereot, have hereunto subscribed my marne this 2-tth day of April 1915.

HAROLD G. BAXTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommssioner of Patents, Washington, 1). C. 

